What an Attorney at Stubbs Alderton Wishes They Knew Before Entering Law
Contrary to popular media portrayals, the reality of legal work, especially on the transactional side, involves far more "negotiation and preparation" than courtroom drama; new lawyers should not feel pressure to "know it all" upon entering the field, as on-the-job learning and mentorship are crucial for growth within a supportive firm environment.
Industry Realities, Career Development, Workplace Challenges, Overcoming Challenges, Candid Advice
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ani Petrosyan
Attorney
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles LLP
UCLA, 2017
Loyola Law School, juris doctor
English
Law
Legal
Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. The reality of a lawyer's job is different from what is often portrayed in media; it involves less courtroom time and more negotiation and preparation.
2. Don't feel pressured to know everything upon entering the legal profession; firms invest in training and you will learn a lot on the job.
3. It is okay to make mistakes; a good firm will value training and help you learn from those mistakes.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
The first thing that comes to mind is people expect lawyers to be in the courtroom 24/7, and that's just not true. Whoever is watching "Law & Order" or "Suits," it's not reality at all.
It's such a small percentage that you're in court if you're on the litigation side. A lot of it, whether litigation or transactional, which is what I do, is more negotiation and preparation than some big scene you might imagine from movies or shows.
To students and people considering law or currently in law school, I think for me there was this fear that after law school, I should know it all. I should be prepared to practice law.
No one expects you to know everything straight out of law school. If you're lucky, you'll find a firm that's very heavy on teaching and training. They understand they're investing in you and are looking for people who want to stick around long-term.
This creates a great relationship if you're in that type of environment. So, don't think you need to know it all because you'll learn. You'll learn in school, but you'll learn more on the job.
You'll definitely learn more from the mistakes you make, and that's okay because you're supposed to. Again, if you're lucky, you'll be in an environment that values training and will let you make those mistakes but also help you learn from them.
Advizer Personal Links
linkedin.com/in/ani-petrosyan